Developing the next generation of health care professionals was a priority at a recent career fair designed to inspire and inform local high school students. Hosted at Sutter’s Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, the event provided an immersive, behind-the-scenes look at the wide range of careers available across the health care system.
Students met staff from departments across the hospital, including environmental services, patient transport, radiology, facilities, human resources, administration, volunteer services, nursing, cardiac care, the emergency department, laboratory services, food and nutrition, respiratory care, therapies and social work discharge planning. By engaging directly with professionals from each area, attendees gained a clearer understanding of how each role contributes to patient care and the overall health care experience.
Beyond department introductions, the event offered interactive opportunities to deepen engagement. A lunch-and-learn session let participants hear from health care professionals about their career journeys, while a CEO Q-and-A gave students access to leadership perspectives on the future of health care and the importance of mission-driven work.
Darian Harris, CEO of Mills-Peninsula, said the goal was not just to inform students, but to inspire them.
“Each student today is going to get an immersive experience, with a chance to dive in and understand the breadth and diversity of opportunities,” he said. “They’ll be able to connect their passion for supporting the community, learning and caring for those in need with a pathway to do that, whether it’s clinical, administrative, finance, engineering, nursing or becoming a physician.”
The importance of early engagement was a recurring theme. Leaders highlighted that today’s students represent the future workforce and that investing in their curiosity and passion now can have lasting impacts.
“We’re going to blink, and they’ll be here, graduated and ready to make a difference,” Harris said. “Our ability to help shape that passion and align it with our mission of caring for patients first and our people always will accelerate their journey and expand our impact on the community.”
For many students, the experience may prove transformative. Sutter Health hopes the event becomes a defining milestone that sparks confidence, courage and a deeper commitment to health care.
“This experience was great,” one student participant said. “So many times you only think of doctors or nurses. I did not realize how many other opportunities existed in a hospital.”
